Braking device for electric motors



Sept. 14, 1948. B. M. HAYMAN BRAKING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Nov. 2'7, 1945 Sept. 14, 1948. B, M, AYMAN 2,449,223

BRAKING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS Patented Sept. 14, 1 948 BRAKING'DEVICE FOB ELECTRIC MOTORS BernardMax .Hayman, Leamington Spa, England, assignor to AutomotiveProducts Company Limited, Leamington Spa, England Application November 27, 1945, Serial No. 631,157 In'GreatBrita-in November 27, 1944 6 Cla ms. 1

This invention relates to. braking devices for electric motors, andit has for its object to provide an improved method of and means for bringing a motor to a standstill at a predetermined point in its travel.

In a method of stoppingan electric motor at a predetermined position, in which a reverse torque is applied, according to the invention the reversed torque is produced by current controlled by a device which is responsive to the motion of the motor, said motion responsive device'being caused to cut off' the current producing the re.- verse torque as soon as themotcr is substantially stopped.

There is further provided according to the invention a method-of stopping an electric'motor at a predetermined position, in which a reverse torque is applied, wherein the reverse torque is produced by current passing through a switch responsive to the motion of the motor, which motion-responsive switch is caused to open by movement of the motor in thereverse direction, thereby cutting off the said reverse torque. Preferably the motion-responsive device or switch isoperated by the frictional drag ona member which is pressed against the motor shaft or a member rotated thereby.

As another aspect, the inventionprovides an electric motor system arranged to'bestopped when a predetermined position is reachedsaid system comprising an electric motorrcurrent control means for applying a reverse torque to said electric motor when thepredetermined position is reached. and a motion-responsiveswitch'device which cuts oiT the current to the motor'when the latter startsto turn in the reverse direction under the action of the reverse torque. Convenientlv the motion responsive switch is actua ed by a member wh ch is'operatively connected withthe motor shaft by means of a slipp ng clutch device. If desired the motor'may dr ve a rec rocatory member. the motion-responsive switch being actuat d by the rotary movement of the mo or, and the current con rol means for producing reverse tor ue being actuated by the reci rocatory member as it reaches the end of its stroke. Moreover, the cur.- rent control means may comprise a limit switch u d by t or at a r te m ned point in its operation. The motor can rotate a S eeve which latter has an internal thread or equivalent engaging a threaded rod extending withinthe sleeve. said sleeve carrying externally the meme b'eroby'which he oti n respons ve witc i actuated. The reciprocatory member may have a projection which, as the reciprocatory member reaches a predetermined position, changes over a two-position switch for applying reverse torque to the motor.

The motor preferably has duplicated field windings connected so that one winding only is used for driving the motor in one direction, and the other winding only isused for the other direction; where the motor is shunt wound, the armature may be connected with the supply through a relay operated by the current in. the field circuit.

The motioneresponsive switch can conveniently comprise two pairs of contact blades and an angulariy movable arm which is mounted upon a rotationally driven member and is connected therewith by a slipping clutch device, the arm beingarrangedto close contacts carried by one pair of blades during rotation of the motor in one direction, and close contacts on the other pair of blades when the motor rotates in the opposite direction.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of an electric motor driven valve of the piston type;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 27-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of the motion responsive switch as seen from below;

Figure 4 is a plan of one of the reversing switches as seen in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 2;

, Figure 5 is a connectiondiagram suitable for a series motor with duplicate field windings; and

Figure 6 is a corresponding diagram for a shunt wound motor with duplicate field windmgs.

The device shown in Figure 1 comprises. an electric motor Ill having an armature spindle ll to which is pinned a, tubular shaft ii, The righthand end of the latter is guided in ball thrust bearing 13 mounted in a block l4 whichcarries the electric switch devices as will be hereinafter described, and is enclosed in a cylindrical casing i5 attached to the motor ill by a flange It. This block [4 is drilled axially to form a here I! containing a rodiil having, at about the middle of its length, a cylindrical enlargement i9 which is a smooth sliding fit within the bore ll. A diametral pin 28 (see also Figure '2) extends through the enlargement i9 and has at its ends rollers 2| arranged to run within longitudinal slots 22 in the block l4 so as to prevent rotational movement of the rod i8 without restricting its axial movement. The left-hand part of the rod |8 is screw-threaded as indicated at 23, and is engaged by an internal screw-thread 24 formed within the end part of the sleeve l2, so that the rod I8 is moved to the right or to the left according to the direction in which the spindle ll of the motor is driven. The right-hand end of the rod I3 extends slidably within a sleeve 25 formed upon the valve member 26 of a piston type valve, indicated generally at 27. As usual, the valve member has enlargements or lands 26 which are a substantially fluid-tight sliding fit within a liner 29 and which act to control the flow of fluid through ports, two of which are seen at 36 and 3|. The valve member 26 is also formed with a stem 32 carrying a knob 33 by which the valve can be actuated manually. In order to allow such actuation, the sleeve 25 has an annular housing 34 containing a number of balls 35 which are pressed resiliently into a groove 36 in the rod l3 by means of an encircling spring 31; the grip on the rod afiorded by the balls is sum'cient to ensure that the valve member 26 is normally driven by the rod I8, although sufficient force can be exerted manually upon the knob 33 to press the balls 35 out of the groove 36, the balls then sliding upon the outside of the rod IS.

The block I4 is formed at its lower part with a longitudinal groove 38 for the accommodation of a motion-responsive switch which is indicated generally at 36. It comprises four spring blades 46, 4|, 42 and 43 mounted in a block 44 of insulating material so as to be electrically disconnected from one another. The blades 4| and 42 are longer than the others and extend one on each side of an arm 45 of insulating material. At its upper end this arm has a circular hole 46 within which the tubular shaft l2 extends and is freely rotatable. The shaft itself, however, is formed with an external fiat extending from its left-hand end as far as a shoulder 41, and fitting upon this flatted portion is a pair of washers 48 and 49 having appropriate D-shaped holes so as to be non-rotatable on the tubular shaft 2, but slidable therealong. The washers 48 and 49 are disposed on either side of the arm 45 and squeeze the latter resiliently owing to the action of a coiled compression spring 56 bearing at its other end against an adjustable abutment collar The washers 48 and 49 thus tend to turn the arm 45 as one with the tubular shaft I2, but when a predetermined resistance is experienced, the device acts as a frictional slipping clutch. The force transmitted, however, is suflicient to deflect one or other of the spring blades 4|, 42, depending upon the direction of rotation, thus making contact, either at 52 between the blades 4| and 46, or at 53 between the blades 42 and 43. When the blade 40 or 43 engages the side of the groove 38 the resistance to further movement exceeds the torque-transmitting power of the clutch device and slipping commences.

At its upper part the block i4 is shaped to form a cavity 54 containing a pair of limit switches 55 and 56 for bringing about reversal of the motor spindle I l. These are actuated by plunger members 51 and 58 which are freely slidable in radial passages in the block I4 and are arranged to be engaged by the enlargement l9 as the latter reaches the corresponding end of its range of travel. The switches 55 and 56 are of the change-over type and each is arranged as shown in Figure 4. A bracket 60 attached to the block |'4 carries a spring blade 6| having three arms 62, 63 and 64. The outer arms 62 and 64 are arched and the middle arm 63 is arranged to be engaged at a short distance from its anchored end by the corresponding plunger 51 or 58. The blade 6| is shaped so that normally its free end presses resiliently against a lower contact 65 upon the block |4, but when the plunger member 51 or 58 presses upwards, the blade rapidly springs up, leaving the contact 65 and engaging an overhanging bracket 66 forming a second contact.

The electrical connections of the unit are shown in Figure 5. The motor I0 is of the series Wound direct current type and has upon its field, magnet duplicate windings arranged to be used alternatively according to the direction of rotation required. These windings are indicated at 6'! and 68, and are both connected by a wire 69 to the brush 16 of the commutator, indicated at II. The other brush 12 is connected by a wire 13 with, say, the negative supply lead. The field windings 61 and 68 are connected at their opposite ends by wires 14 and 15, respectively, to the lower contacts 65 of the plunger-operated limit switches 55 and 56; the blades 6| of these switches are connected to the contacts 16 and H of a selector switch 18 used for switching on the motor I!) in the desired direction. This switch is connected to, say, the positive lead 19 of the supply. The contacts 66 of the switches 55 and 56 are connected respectively with the blades 43 and 40 of the motion-responsive switch 39 by wires and 8|, while the inner blade 4| and 42 are cross connected to the contacts 65 by wires 62 and 63.

The operation of the unit is as follows. Let it be assumed that the rod l8 and valve member 26 are in the right-hand position or intermediate the ends of their stroke and it is desired to move them to their left-hand position. The selector switch 18 is therefore set to the left-hand position as shown in Figure 5, thus allowing current to flow through the contact 65 of the switch 55 to the field winding 67 and through the commutator II to the negative supply lead 13. This turns the motor spindle in a clockwise direction'as viewed in Figure 5, so that the frictionaily urged arm 45 cause contact to be made at 53, without, however, afiecting the current flow as the contact 66 of the switch 55 is isolated. When the rod l8 reaches its left-hand position, the switch 55 changes over to its contact 66 owing to the engagement of the enlargement IS with the plunger 51, thus breaking the circuit through the field winding 61 and transferring it to the field winding 66 by way of the wire 86, switch blades 43, 42 and the wire 83. This magnetizes the field in the opposite direction so that the momentum possessed by the armature is strongly opposed, the motor thus being brought to a standstill almost instantaneously. At this point in the operation the springiness of the blade 42 (aided perhaps by a very slight reverse torque produced in the motor) urges the arm 45 to its central position, thus breaking the contact at 53 and shutting off the motor entirely, the rod l8 being exactly in the required position. To move the rod l8 to its right-hand position, the selector switch 18 is set to the contact 11, thus energising the field winding 68 and causing the motor spindle to rotate anti-clockwise; the arm 45 therefore closes the contacts at 52, so that when the switch 56 is operated at the end of the stroke, the field winding 61 is energised to produce the reverse torque until the arm 45 resumes its centralised position.

When a motor of the shunt or compound wound type is required, there are two circuits to be switched on and ofi, and one of said circuits has to be changed over to bring about reverse rotation; for this the general arrangement shown in Figure 6 may be adopted. It is similar to Figure 5, as far as the field windingsil'l, 68, the motionresponsive switch 3?], the limit switches 55, 5t and the selector switch 18 are concerned. The wire E59 joining the upper ends of the field windings, however, is connected through a relay'coil 84 to the negative supply lead; this lead is also connected by way of the normally-open relay contacts 85 to the commutator brush 12, the other brush iii being connected by a wire 85 to the positive supply lead The operation is the same as before and it will be clear that whenever current flows through either field winding El or 6B, the relay coil as is energised, thus closing the contacts 85 and placing the commutator 'li across the supply leads is and 73. As soon as the current is switched off from the field windings 5'6, 63 the relay coil 84 is tie-energised and breaks the armature circuit.

It will be understood that the construction and wiring arrangements illustrated are given only by way of example and that various modifications may be made.

Arrangements similar to those described above may be employed with alternating current motors.

The rotation-controlled switch need not be of the particular form described, any arrangement which engages contact only during rotation of the motor being suitable, and the detail features may be varied in many ways without departing from the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. An electric motor system arranged to drive an actuated member translationally along a path to one end position or the other, according to the position in which a selector switch is set, said system comprising a reversible electric motor having dual windings, one for each direction of rotation, a screw-and-nut drive connecting the motor shaft with the actuated member to produce translational movement, a motion-responsive switch device comprising an arm, a frictional slippin drive from the motor to the arm and a pair of motionresponsive switches which are normally open, one or other of the motion-responsive switches being closed when the motor is rotating, depending upon the direction, a pair of limit switches of th change-over type either one of which is operated mechanically by the actuated member as said actuated member reaches the corresponding end position, each limit switch normally connecting the current supply from the selector switch directly with that motor winding which moves the actuated member towards said limit switch, but when the end position is reached, connecting the supply from the selector switch with the other motor winding by Way of one of the motion-responsive switches, so that the motor is brought rapidly to a standstill by reverse torque and the initial reverse rotation cuts off the motor from the supply.

2. An electric motor system according to claim 1 including a sleeve rotatable as one with the motor spindle, a screw thread formed within said sleeve, a screw-threaded stem constituting the actuated member threadedly engaging within the 6 sleeve, and guiding means preventing the stem from rotating but permitting it to move axially as the sleeve rotates.

3. An electric motor system according to claim 1, including a body having a bore within which the actuated'member is slidable, plungers fitted siidably within passages in the wall of said bore, a projection on the actuated member to engage the inner ends of the plungers and push one or other of said plungers outwards as the corresponding end position is reached by the actuated member, the limit switches being mounted upon the outside of said body to be operated by the outer ends of the plungers.

4. An electric motor system according to claim 3, in which the body carries the motion-responsive switches, said switches extending within a groove formed in the body substantially parallel with the bore therein, said switches being engaged at right angles by the frictionally driven arm.

5. An electric motor system arranged to drive an actuated member translationally along a path to one end position or the other, according to the position in which a selector switch is set, said system comprising a reversible electric motor having dual windings, one for each direction of rotation, a screw-and-nut drive connecting the motor shaft with the actuated member to produce translational movement, a motion responsive switch de- Vice comprising an arm, a frictional slipping drive from the motor to the arm and a pair of motionresponsive switches which are normally open, one or other of the motion-responsive switches being closed when the motor is rotating, depending upon the direction, a pair of limit switches of the change-over type either one of which is operated mechanically by the actuated member as said actuated member reaches the corresponding end position, each limit switch having a snap-over action and normally connecting the current supply from the selector switch directly with that motor winding which moves the actuated member towards said limit switch, but when the end position is reached, connecting the supply from the selector switch with the other motor winding by way of one of the motion-responsive switches, so that the motor is brought rapidly to a standstill by reverse torque and the initial reverse rotation cuts off the motor from the supply.

6. An electric motor system according to claim 5, in which the motor includes an armature fed in parallel with the dual motor windings, a relay energized by current flowing through either one of said motor windings and having its contacts in series with the armature so that when neither of the dual motor windings is passing current the relay breaks the circuit through the motor armature.

BERNARD MAX HAYMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,364,847 Stratton Jan. 4, 1921 1,549,921 Oberschmidt Aug, 18, 1925 1,569,409 Staege Jan. 12, 1926 2,167,850 Phillips Aug. 1, 1939 

